August 27, 2015The Ocean Cleanup Array will be the first system to sustainably clean up plastic pollution from the world’s oceans using the natural rotating currents to its’ advantage. Designed for large-magnitude deployment, covering millions of square kilometres, the solution is a collection of huge floating barriers designed to be placed in centre of the circular currents – called gyres – and passively collect the plastic.

The Ocean Cleanup Array will be the first system to sustainably clean up plastic pollution from the world’s oceans using the natural rotating currents to its’ advantage. Designed for large-magnitude deployment, covering millions of square kilometres, the solution is a collection of huge floating barriers designed to be placed in centre of the circular currents – called gyres – and passively collect the plastic.

The rows of barriers to be placed on the oceans surface will essentially work like a giant funnel; while the current flows freely underneath, the booms will catch the floating lighter-than-water debris. Once the plastic is concentrated, assisted platforms attached to the barriers will then efficiently extract the plastic from the sea. The waste can then be brought on to land via vessel, sorted and recycled into new materials or oil via pyrolysis.

The stationary system is completely safe for marine life and is designed to be almost entirely self-sufficient, predominantly running on energy harnessed from the sun and waves. The Ocean Cleanup’s research indicates that using a single 100 km floating barrier, deployed for 10 years, will remove 42 percent of the great pacific garbage patch. They estimate this to be 70,320,000 kilogram, which will cost US $5.10 per kilogram.

Facts about the Global Challenge

Approximately eight million tons of plastic is thrown into the oceans every year. Gyres – as the oceans’ largest rotating currents – concentrate most of this plastic into five large areas around the world, which some call ‘islands of garbage’.

Plastic in the oceans has become one of the world’s biggest pollution problems, killing up to 100,000 birds, fish and other marine life every year.

The problem currently costs the world about US $13 billion every year in plastic removal. According to the The Ocean Cleanup Array team, all the methods proposed or currently in practice are not only costly but are also harmful to the environment. “Using vessels and nets to collect the plastic from one garbage patch would take about 79,000 years and tens of billions of dollars,” the team reports. “Such an operation would cause significant harm to sea life and generate huge amounts of CO2 and other emissions.”

JURY REVIEW

The international INDEX: Award Jury consists of 13 influential figures from all over the world – each bringing their unique expertise from the industries of design, business and innovation. The jury’s primary task is to select the finalists and winners of INDEX: Award from the pool of nominations, while simultaneously playing a key role in the organisation by constantly discussing, evaluating and advocating Design to Improve Life, in order to move the borders and expand the impact of design in the world.

Why did it win?
The Ocean Cleanup Array won the 2015 INDEX: Award due its momentous potential to address one the largest global challenges. The incredibly ingenious idea will greatly improve the condition of the Earth’s greatest natural resource, as well as the lives of millions. The solution will not only have tremendous benefits for the environment and biodiversity, but will improve human health by dramatically reducing the amount of plastic toxins circulating throughout the food chain.

In addition, Boyan Slat as a young designer has shown that age or experience are no barrier when it comes to true innovation and bringing a revolutionary idea to life. Through rigorous research and testing The Ocean Cleanup Team have also demonstrated that the solution is a highly feasible concept.

What the jury said
INDEX: Award Chairman Mikal Hallstrup, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer at Designit:

“I really feel the INDEX in it, a young guy with fire in his belly ready to solve a huge problem – plus all the inventiveness and entrepreneurship.”

“We live in a plastic age and we’ve already recognised a number of global challenges related to the oceans – it’s about time we’re serious about a resource that makes up over 70 percent of the world’s surface.”

“It’s a beautiful intellect to use nature to your advantage, this is great example of an initiative that is driven by broader principles to improve life for all humanity and our surroundings for many years to come.”

What’s next – how will The Ocean Cleanup Array spend the €100,000 prize?
Through a series of up-scaling tests, The Ocean Cleanup team is now preparing the unique technology for full deployment in three to four years’ time. To ensure the success of this phase, the team is working on further detailing the technology, refining it up to a level where it can be successfully manufactured, deployed and operated. The team is also collecting oceanographic plastic pollution data through research expeditions.

The design will be tested next year near Tsushima – an island located in the waters between Japan and South Korea. To test the long-term durability, efficiency, and improve the environmental conditions in the area, the system will span over 2,000 meters and will be operational for at least two years.

“Winning this award will help us couple [our expeditions] and use them as input for our engineers to further optimise our design. This will be a major step towards cleaner oceans.” – The Ocean Cleanup Team.